Minerva Day to celebrate 25 years

Minerva  The town of Minerva is putting together a celebration of local pride on Saturday, June 30 with the 25th annual Minerva Day.

This holiday exemplifies what it means to live in a small town: a strong sense of community and commitment to the places we call home.

The Minerva Day Planning Committee, headed by Town Supervisor Sue Montgomery Corey, is working hard on pulling the event together. She is committed to making Minerva Day a success.

“It gives people who live in Minerva and grew up in Minerva a chance to come home again,” Corey said. As for out-of-town visitors, “we love the company.”

The day will start off with a breakfast sponsored by the parents of MCS’s Class of 2015. A “Pant, Pedal, and Paddle” race and a fishing derby at Minerva Lake will take place later in the morning. For those looking for less competitive events, town residents will open their lawns in a series of townwide garage sales the last all day. Minerva also plans to showcase home-grown creativity; an art show is planned at the Irishtown schoolhouse while local artists sell their work in Courtney Park.

The day wouldn’t be complete without its annual parade, which ends at Donnelly Beach and segues into the evening’s entertainment. The beach will host a potluck dinner at 6 p.m., followed by live music by Scott West. A variety of community organizations will have games, glow sticks, balloons, and face paint available for children and families. Fireworks over the lake promise an explosive end to the festivities.

In celebration of Minerva Days’ 25th anniversary, the Minerva Historical Society is putting together an exhibit that narrates the history of the holiday. Originally called “Discover Minerva Day,” the holiday was founded to showcase local businesses.

Sue Rawson plans to incorporate little pieces of past Minerva Day exhibits, featuring everything from “Grandma’s Glassware” to “A Century of Fashion.” There will also be a pictorial display honoring Minerva’s past “citizens of the year,” an honor bestowed upon one lucky local in recognition of their contributions to the town. The Historical Society hopes to show how Minerva Day has evolved since its inception.

Minerva Day’s commitment to community shows is every aspect of the event, even the funding. Participation is voluntary, and the individuals and organizations that contribute are responsible for their own finances. While the town of Minerva has a small budget set aside for the holiday, most of the money comes either from donations or from the pockets of local residents who want to show how special their hometown is.